Smith and Wesson is one of the largest and oldest firearm companies in the US. S&W was incorporated in 1856. The partnership between Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson has remained for over 160 years and counting. In the 1960s Smith & Wesson went after the law enforcement market focusing on Smith-Wesson revolvers and handcuffs.
Smith & Wesson was purchased by Bangor Punta in the early 1970s. Towards the end of the 1970s the company had grown exponentially selling more than just firearms. S&W offered there dealers holsters, ammunition and long guns or rifles.

Today Smith and Wesson has a large range of products mainly firearms and more specifically S&W handguns. They also offer the M&P handguns and M&P rifles. These are designed for military and police and available for the general public to purchase. S&W is known for there revolvers and there performance center revolvers that are made to a even higher quality and made to a higher tolerance used by professional shooters like Jerry Miculek a world record holding national champion shooter.

The M&P Shield chambered in 9mm is one of S&W's most popular handguns. This is also offered in the full size M&P chambered in .40 S&W, 9mm, .45 ACP. They also make a performance center version of the M&P.